Bible Discussion Thread

It is OK too love a women but not touch her. Too desire her but not act

I hear what you're asking, but I don't think relationships, whether intimate or not, are so 'cut & dry'. Apart from the woman's feelings & permissions, the man has to conduct himself in a pure manner before God & within himself. What the Lord states in His Word is always clear & should be adhered to concerning our thoughts & acts towards another. The word 'lust' is not just a desire for something, it is something so deep that it consumes our thoughts, our actions, indeed affects our whole being. Lust for anything, whether for another person or something else, is wrong, & demonstrates a misplaced & imbalanced desire. And in the sexual realm, if allowed to grow, it can become very gripping & consuming, which is sin.

When it comes to ourselves, we have to determine whether it is a genuine love or lust we have, whether our feelings towards another that's engaging our minds conform to the pattern laid out for us in the Word, even if the woman is unaware of our feelings. If your desire is genuine, i.e. you sense love deep in your heart or from some confirmation by the Spirit, then it is appropriate to make it known to the woman. Of course, if she is already 'taken' or has indicated that she doesn't want to pursue any contact with you at that level, then you would have to submit to it & leave her alone without pressuring her. It comes down to whether in any relationship, we want to please the Lord in our desire & behaviour. So if the relationship is not to be, are we prepared to let go of it & believe that God has prevented it for some reason, having something else or something better for us? And in time, we may just see the Wisdom of God in all this, as to those who are indeed His precious children to whom He gives His best.